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Primary cardiac hydatid cyst in a child. Cytologic diagnosis of a case
F López-Ríos1, A Pérez-Barrios, P P de Agustín
1Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.
Background:
Echinococcosis is a troublesome disease, particularly common in sheep-raising communities and usually caused by the cestode Echinococcus granulosus. Although it has been found in almost every organ, isolated cardiac disease is an exceptional presentation since cardiac involvement occurs in only 0.5-3% of echinococcosis cases.
Case:
A case of primary cardiac hydatid cyst occurred in a 4-year-old male. The asymptomatic patient was admitted to the hospital for evaluation of an intracardiac cyst. The lesion was successfully excised by open heart surgery, and a definitive diagnosis was made postoperatively by Giemsa staining of hooklets and scolices in cyst fluid.
Conclusion:
This case is of special interest because of the rare site of the lesion and young age of the patient. Pathologists should be alert to the possibility of this parasite appearing in unusual clinical settings.